The next two events in the Community Resilience Pilot Program will be held in Chantilly (Sully Supervisory District), with a seminar next week and exercise in mid-February.

The seminar is scheduled for Tuesday, January 27, from 5-8:30 p.m. at the Sully District Government Center, 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly (register for the seminar). The exercise will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 17, also from 5-8:30 p.m., at the Sully District Government Center (register for the exercise).

Leaders and decision-makers at area community-based organizations, nonprofits, faith-based groups, homeowner associations, PTAs and first responders should attend. And the best part — both events are free (dinner is included).

The events are part of a pilot project that provides an opportunity for local community partners to meet and better understand how groups can work together in response to a disaster. The program is funded through an Urban Area Security Initiative grant as a means to prepare for and recover from disaster incidents.

The preparedness seminar provides a background on the interaction between first responders, emergency management and the community during disaster events and how the various community representatives can assist. The exercise provides an opportunity for the community members to see how their organization’s personnel and resources can assist during the recovery phase of a disaster.

Fairfax County Government offices are open today, Wednesday, Jan. 14, however employees have been granted unscheduled leave. Emergency service personnel should report as scheduled.

Fairfax County Public Schools are closed today, Wednesday, Jan. 14. School Age Child Care(SACC) centers are closed.

The Fairfax County Circuit Court, General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court are open today, Wednesday, Jan. 14.

Parks, Community and Recreation and Community Centers

If you have questions about Park Authority facilities, contact the site directly, call the Parks inclement weather line at 703-324-8661, TTY 711, or visit fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.

For Department of Neighborhood and Community Services programs and events visit fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs or call 703-324-4600, TTY 711.

The Reston Community Center and the McLean Community Center may be affected by the inclement weather. Call RCC at 703-476-4500, TTY 711, restoncommunitycenter.com or MCC at 703-790-0123, TTY 711, www.mcleancenter.org for their current operating status.

Transportation: Connector, Fastran

Fairfax Connector bus service may be affected by the inclement weather. Check the Connector Web page at fairfaxconnector.com for the current operating status.

The Fairfax County Circuit Court, General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court are open.

Status for Parks, Community and Recreation and Community Centers

If you have questions about Park Authority facilities, contact the site directly, call the Parks inclement weather line at 703-324-8661, TTY 711, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.

For Department of Neighborhood and Community Services programs and events visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs or call 703-324-4600, TTY 711.

The Reston Community Center and the McLean Community Center may be affected by the inclement weather. Call RCC at 703-476-4500, TTY 711, www.restoncommunitycenter.com or MCC at 703-790-0123, TTY 711, www.mcleancenter.org for their current operating status.

Status for Transportation: Connector, Fastran

Fairfax Connector bus service may be affected by the inclement weather. Check the Connector Web page at www.fairfaxconnector.com for the current operating status.

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The National Weather Service has now issued a winter storm warning for the county and some surrounding areas until 1 p.m. 3-6 inches of snow are now expected in some locations.

Roads are difficult to navigate in many areas of the county this morning. Please drive with caution and watch for pedestrians. Pedestrians and transit riders, please be careful outside.

The Police Department’s accident policy is now in effect, meaning that if you are involved in a minor fender-bender, with NO injuries and NOT blocking the roadway, please move off of the roadway, exchange relevant information regarding driver’s license, vehicle registration information and automobile insurance coverage.

Two other reminders because we have received many questions on this blog and social media platforms:

Fairfax County Public Schools makes its own status decisions, not the county government. Visit www.fcps.edu for any changes.

The Virginia Department of Transportation plows our county roads, not the county government. Check snow plow status.

What You Can Do

When the snow stops later today, please take time to remove the snow from your sidewalks. Visit our new webpage at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/shovel.

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The end of summer brings the start of another school year, full of opportunity to get involved in fresh activities and learn something new. Deciding on new school supplies and planning the outfit you’ll wear on the first day of school is part of being prepared. But, are your child(ren) and family prepared for emergencies?

The back-to-school season also presents the opportunity to get prepared for emergencies, especially as family routines oftentimes change during the school year and disasters may not occur while family is together.

Do you and your children know the following information without cellphone access? Is it handy in wallets, backpacks, briefcases and more?

Family phone numbers.

Addresses for home, school and work.

Meeting location (one near your house and outside your neighborhood).

Out-of-state contact for household members to notify they are safe.

Inquire about emergency plans at places where your family frequently spends their time:

Work.

Daycare and school.

Houses of worship.

Sports arenas and venues.

Involving your children in making your family’s emergency plan helps them know what to do and reduces stress during times of emergency. Make your family emergency plan at www.ReadyNOVA.org.

Shopping for school supplies? Pick up an extra backpack or use an old one and enjoy a family night of making emergency go-kits. Emergency kits need to be customized to each person’s individual needs.

Two years ago today, many of us woke up to no power, spotty cellphone service, 9-1-1 problems, downed trees and a host of other complications as the result of a derecho storm.

Broken power lines in Fairfax County as a result of the derecho storm in 2012.

We continue to talk about the derecho storm two years later as it impacted many aspects of our emergency preparedness and response efforts. And we continue to conduct exercise drills so we’re better prepared:

Over the weekend, our first responders joined in an exercise on the new Silver Line Metro.

We are preparing for the next weather event or emergency:

What preparations have you made?

We Need Everyone to Prepare

During widespread events such as the derecho, the government alone can’t respond immediately to long power outages, downed trees, hurricanes or people stuck in transit, especially across a county that’s 400 square miles.

Digital Preparedness

Digital preparedness is increasingly important and after the derecho, power and cell service were interrupted. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management created this quick visual to help us think about digital preparedness:

A Word About 9-1-1

One of the major impacts from the derecho was the inability to call 9-1-1. In this video, Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova discusses some of the changes made with Verizon, the region’s 9-1-1 carrier.

It’s smart to get ready for hurricane and flash flooding season, which arrives June 1. And it’s smart to save money.

You can do both by shopping for such products as batteries, food storage containers, generators, first-aid kits, bottled water, radios and more between May 25-31 during Virginia’s Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. When you do, you won’t pay sales tax on many useful products that cost up to $60 or on generators costing $1,000 or less. That’s a savings of 5 percent.

And gas-powered chainsaws that cost $350 or less and chainsaw accessories that cost $60 or less also are tax free — a new addition to this year’s sales tax holiday.

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Photo of car that did NOT turn around on a flooded road two weeks ago in the Chantilly area.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning until 10:15 a.m. because of all the rain we’ve received since last night. Excessive runoff from the heavy rain will cause flash flooding of small creeks, streams, urban areas, highways, streets, underpasses and other drainage areas and low lying spots.

Fairfax County and the surrounding areas have received a lot of rain in the past 24 hours, and while the intensity has decreased, rain is still falling in certain areas and roadways are wet, which affects your ability to quickly stop your vehicle during your afternoon commute.

Here are some safety tips to keep in mind this afternoon and evening as you travel.

First, turn on your headlights and your windshield wipers. Your wipers are obvious, but unfortunately, many of us forget to turn on our headlights, which helps us be seen by others on these overcast, grey rainy days.

Once in your vehicle and on your way, remember to give yourself plenty of space around other vehicles. AAA Mid-Atlantic suggests on three-lane roads to drive in the middle lane. They say that most roads are higher in the middle, which means there’s a greater chance of water runoff and standing water in the side lanes.

Avoid Hydroplaning

Be sure to slow down when you see water standing on the surface of the pavement, especially on freeways. Also, drive in the tracks left by any vehicle ahead.

If hydroplaning does occur, do not brake. Instead, ease your foot off the accelerator to gradually decrease speed until your tires regain traction, and continue to look and steer where you want to go. In fact braking in wet conditions is tricky business. Sudden, hard or prolonged braking can cause a skid.

If your vehicle is equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS), all you need to do is press the brake pedal and hold it down. Do not pump the brakes, because ABS does that very rapidly for you. The system automatically senses if a wheel begins to lock and quickly releases and reapplies the brakes as many times as necessary to keep the wheel from locking up.

If your vehicle is not equipped with anti-lock brakes, the best way to brake under these conditions is to use squeeze braking. For squeeze braking, keep your heel on the floor and use your toes to apply pressure on the brake pedal. If the wheels lock, ease off the brake pedal to a point where they just release. Adjust pedal pressure as necessary. This gives you the best combination of braking effort and directional control.

Flood Warning and Flash Flood Watch

The National Weather Service has extended the Flood Warning for Fairfax County until 9 p.m. tonight and a Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through late tonight.

Rapidly moving water is powerful and can be a threat to vehicles as well as people and property. Please stay away from rapidly rising creeks and streams and don’t drive through roads covered in water. You can’t tell how deep the water may be, so remember to turn around, don’t drown.

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If you’re a snow lover, then the luck of the Irish is with you today! As you begin your day, here are a few things to know:

1.) Please stay off the roads. We need the roads clear for public safety response and Virginia Department of Transportation snow removal crews. Plows will be out in full force this morning, so never crowd a plow!

2.) If you must drive, practice common sense and drive slowly, especially on secondary roads. Remember that your carcannot start, stop or turn as quickly on snow or ice. Find road conditions on one of our maps.

3.) The Police Department’s accident policy is in effect, meaning officers will respond to personal injury crashes, hit and run crashes involving injury and to fatal crashes only.

Due to the winter weather and existing road conditions, Fairfax County trash and recycling collection in sanitary districts (15 percent of county households) has been cancelled for Monday, March 17. Collections are planned to resume in sanitary districts on Tuesday (weather and road conditions permitting) on the following schedule:

Monday routes will be collected on Tuesday, March 18

Tuesday and Wednesday routes will be collected on Wednesday, March 19

No changes are planned for Thursday and Friday customers

Please check the trash/recycling county customer website for updated service information. Service-related questions can also be directed to the trash/recycling customer service center at 703-802-3322, TTY 711.

Private Trash/Recycling

The impact of the winter weather may also be affecting the operations of private trash and recycling collectors. Customers of private service providers (more than 85 percent of county households) should contact their trash and recycling collector directly for any changes in service. Contact information for private trash and recycling collectors operating in Fairfax County is available online.

If your trash collection service has been postponed until another day please remove your trash containers from the curb in order to enhance the effectiveness of snow clearing operations and to avoid having your containers damaged or buried in snowbanks.

Fairfax County Government offices are closed Monday, March 17, and employees are granted emergency administrative leave. Emergency service personnel should report as scheduled. (*An earlier decision to open offices at noon has been changed.)

The Fairfax County Circuit Court, General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court are closed on Monday.

Fairfax County Public Schools are closed on Monday. School Age Child Care (SACC) centers are closed.

If you have questions about Park Authority facilities, contact the site directly, call the Parks inclement weather line at 703-324-8661, TTY 711, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.

For Department of Neighborhood and Community Services programs and events visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs or call 703-324-4600, TTY 711.

The Reston Community Center and the McLean Community Center may be affected by the inclement weather. Call RCC at 703-476-4500, TTY 711, www.restoncommunitycenter.com or MCC at 703-790-0123, TTY 711, www.mcleancenter.org for their current operating status.

Transportation: Connector, Fastran

Fairfax Connector bus service may be affected by the inclement weather. Check the Connector Web page at www.fairfaxconnector.com or Twitter for the current operating status.

Fairfax County Government officeswill be CLOSED on Monday, March 17. Emergency service personnel should report as scheduled.

Fairfax County Public Schools are closed on Monday, March 17. School Age Child Care (SACC) centers are closed.

The Fairfax County Circuit Court, General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court are closed.

Parks, Community and Recreation and Community Centers

If you have questions about Park Authority facilities, contact the site directly, call the Parks inclement weather line at 703-324-8661, TTY 711, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.

For Department of Neighborhood and Community Services programs and events visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs or call 703-324-4600, TTY 711.

The Reston Community Center and the McLean Community Center may be affected by the inclement weather. Call RCC at 703-476-4500, TTY 711, www.restoncommunitycenter.com or MCC at 703-790-0123, TTY 711, www.mcleancenter.org for their current operating status.

Transportation: Connector, Fastran

Fairfax Connector bus service may be affected by the inclement weather. Check the Connector Web page at www.fairfaxconnector.com for the current operating status.

Fairfax County Government offices will open on time on Tuesday, March 4, however employees have been granted unscheduled leave. Emergency service personnel should report as scheduled. Read more about how/why snow decisions are made.

Fairfax County Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, March 4; School Age Child Care (SACC) centers will also be closed.

The Fairfax County Circuit Court, General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court will open on time.

Parks, Community and Recreation and Community Centers

If you have questions about Park Authority facilities, contact the site directly, call the Parks inclement weather line at 703-324-8661, TTY 711, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.

For Department of Neighborhood and Community Services programs and events visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs or call 703-324-4600, TTY 711.

The Reston Community Center and the McLean Community Center may be affected by the inclement weather. Call RCC at 703-476-4500, TTY 711, www.restoncommunitycenter.com or MCC at 703-790-0123, TTY 711, www.mcleancenter.org for their current operating status.

Transportation: Connector, Fastran

Fairfax Connector bus service may be affected by the inclement weather. Check the Connector Web page at www.fairfaxconnector.com for the current operating status.

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Fairfax County Police Department News

Police are investigating an incident involving spotlighting the agency’s helicopter, creating dangerous visibility issues for the pilot and crew. While returning to the helicopter base on Tuesday, February 24 around 8 p.m., the pilot observed a bright light illuminating Fairfax One. It appeared that the bright white light was following the aircraft and the beam […]

This report is published every weekday, except county holidays. The information in each report covers significant criminal incidents generally from the day before; reports published on Monday cover the preceding Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Some incidents may appear a day or two after the occurrence. The report contains selected crimes, including animal-related incidents and property […]

Detectives from the McLean Police District charged two Pennsylvania men with stealing cable TV batteries after a traffic stop in the Reston area. An officer stopped the men on Thursday, February 5, on a traffic charge around 2:30 a.m. on Ring Road, near Weihle Avenue. The officer noticed several large cable box batteries, a bit […]

A comprehensive investigation into the in-custody death of Natasha McKenna remains ongoing. Detectives are awaiting the Office of the Medical Examiner to determine and release the cause and manner of McKenna’s death. Chief Ed Roessler is committed to releasing information to the public as it becomes available. Previous Release: The Fairfax County Police Department, in conjunction with […]

This report is published every weekday, except county holidays. The information in each report covers significant criminal incidents generally from the day before; reports published on Monday cover the preceding Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Some incidents may appear a day or two after the occurrence. The report contains selected crimes, including animal-related incidents and property […]